| dc.description.abstract | A cross sectional study which was descriptive and analytical in nature was carried out
between February and April 1999 among children aged 6 months to 15 years in Dodotana
Sire district of Arssi zone, Ethiopia. The main objectives of this study was to determine
the vitamin A status of pre-school and school aged children and, determine the risk
factors of vitamin A deficiency in the study area. The methodologies used in data
collection included administration of questionnaire, anthropometric measurements,
clinical examination and serum retinol measurement and stool examination. A total of
402 children were included in the study. Food frequency data was collected from 350
randomly selected children. Serum retinol concentration was measured in 49 children,
including those with xerophthalmia and every twentiet of the remaining children.
Night blindness, Bitots spot, corneal xerosis, corneal ulceration and corneal scar were
observed in 7.2%, 2.2 %, 0.2%, 0.5%, and 0.5% of the children respectively, based on the
most severe eye signs. The prevalence of xerophthalmia was higher in school aged
children than preschool children (P< 0.0001). Based on the WHO recommended cut-off
level, serum retinol levels were in the "low" range «20fJ.l/dl) in 51% of the children. The
mean frequency of consumption of animal sources of vitamin A was 1.5 days/week and
weighted total of animal and plant sources of vitamin A was 1.9 days/week. Low
frequency of consumption of vitamin A rich food was significantly associated with ocular
signs of xerophthalmia (P<0.01).
Of the under 10 years old children (305) 35.7% were stunted, 6.8% wasted and 5.6%
both stunted and wasted. Intestinal parasites were observed in 16.6% of the children.
The prevalence of diarrhea, respiratory tract infection and measles in the last one month
was 10.2%,4.7% and 0.25% respectively. The prevalence of diarrhea was twice as high
in children with xerophthalmia than children without (P<0.05). No statistically
significant association was observed between respiratory tract infection or measles or
intestinal parasite and occurrence of sign of xerophthalmia. Anthropometric
measurements did not show significant association with clinical sings of vitamin A
deficiency.
The results therefore, indicate that vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem in the
area with higher prevalence among school aged children than preschool children.
Inadequate intake of vitamin A rich foods and diarrheal diseases were the most important
risk factors for vitamin A deficiency in the study area.
It is recommended that the on-going vitamin A capsule distribution program among the
under six be strengthened and widened to include school children (up to 15 year olds) as
a short-term intervention measure. However, increasing the availability and consumption
of vitamin A rich foods through promotion of horticulture and nutrition education, and
public health measures such as the control of diarrheal diseases, are the recommended as
long-term control measures. | en |
